Cuyamaca College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in El Cajon, California. It enrolls 7,177 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
70/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes54
Value67
Affordability51
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Cuyamaca College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Cuyamaca College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $6,618 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$6,618
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,346
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,314
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,690
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,183
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,219
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,270
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,665
Over $110,000
$11,961
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,00025%percentile
$5,25075%percentile
$10,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Dependent students $3,657
—
Independent students $7,000
—
Female students $5,967
—
Male students $4,500
—
What this means:
27% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
10% of full-time students who enrolled at Cuyamaca College graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
10%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cuyamaca College earn a median of $32,435 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,435
Earning > $25K
53%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,400, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.9 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Cuyamaca College is home to 7,177 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 61% are first-generation college students, 73% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
7,177
Part-Time
73%
First-Generation
61%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 50.6%3,633
Hispanic 32.2%2,311
Asian 4.7%338
Other 4.5%321
Black 4.0%288
International 0.2%14
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Cuyamaca College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbEl Cajon, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
38%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Cuyamaca College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
52 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cuyamaca College is 25:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
25:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$2,877
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.8M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,147
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
88 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
88
100%
$95,147
Pros & Cons of Cuyamaca College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cuyamaca College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Cuyamaca College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuyamaca College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cuyamaca College.
Is Cuyamaca College hard to get into?
Cuyamaca College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Cuyamaca College?
Cuyamaca College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Cuyamaca College cost?
The average net price after aid at Cuyamaca College is $6,618 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cuyamaca College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,435 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,618 per year. That's roughly 4.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cuyamaca College known for?
Cuyamaca College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Cuyamaca College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Cuyamaca College are $32,435, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Cuyamaca College accredited?
Yes. Cuyamaca College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Cuyamaca College?
Cuyamaca College enrolls 7,177 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Cuyamaca College?
Cuyamaca College graduates 10% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Cuyamaca College a public or private college?
Cuyamaca College is a Public institution.
Where is Cuyamaca College located?
Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, California.
What programs does Cuyamaca College offer?
Cuyamaca College offers 52 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cuyamaca College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cuyamaca College is 25:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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